The Breakdown Lane

by Jacquelyn Mitchard

HarperCollins Publishers, 2005

$7.99 at Amazon.com (see link below)

Reviewed by LizOP
MSWorld Book Reviewer




Relationships can be difficult. In this book, Mitchard tells of a marriage gone sour with the actions of a selfish husband who abandons his family for a "simpler life," and how she proceeds to take care of three children with difficulty. Then she is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

I found the first half of the book cumbersome to read, but when I got to the second half, I was glad I had persevered. Even though other people's lives rarely resemble our own, this is an honest writing of how a family can become dysfunctional quickly, and without warning.

The writing is a combination of the main character's thoughts and those of her 15-year old son, who throws one curse word with abandon, which I find tiresome. If you are sensitive to the more "popular" use of certain curse words, you might find this offensive.

The characters are written well and are believable, which I do like. But the chances of a 40-ish woman, divorced with three children, in the throes of MS, finding the love of her life in an old middle school boyfriend, does not ring true - although I wish it could be true for the many women left alone in their MS.

There is no doubt this author has a gift with words but this book won't go down as my favorite, but one I am glad I read.


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